Hostplus Cup Round 1 preview

Townsville Blackhawks v Sunshine Coast Falcons

Head-to-head: Townsville 8, Sunshine Coast 8
Last meeting: Sunshine Coast 28 def Townsville 18 in Round 13, 2022
Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Going up to Jack Manski Oval could be the preferred option for the Sunshine Coast, who have won the last two games there between these two sides
• Townsville will look to start 2023 better than they finished 2022, which ended with four losses and two draws in their final six games

A word from the coaches

Townsville Blackhawks coach Aaron Payne: For this week I guess our focus is around ourselves. It's important early in the season that we just put into place the things we've been working on during the pre-season and worry about our own backyard. That's what I'd like to see from us for our first week. Sunshine Coast have named their team but I think the allocated players from Melbourne are still to come back, which will strengthen up an already strong side. They have some really good middle forwards in (Patrice) Siolo and (Lazarus) Vaalepu and a crafty hooker in (Jai) Smoothy. (Luke) Polselli is always dangerous at fullback. They have a good side to start with and it will only get stronger so we'll wait and see.

Sunshine Coast Falcons coach Brad Henderson: I just want to see a bit of consistency with the football. We've been patchy through our first three trials in particular. It got better in that last trial against Norths but there was still a period where we didn't respect the football enough so I'd like to see some consistency and patience too. When it comes to the Blackhawks, I don't know what to expect. I watched one of their trials where the team is similar to what they've named this weekend. They're physical, a big team across the park. They've been training together so I expect them to be quite connected in terms of what they do with their football. It's physicality as always with Townsville, particularly up there. We have to deal with the conditions and they are a strong, well-coached team. But we don't put a lot of time and energy into the opposition, especially at this time of year. We need to control what we control and hope it works out on game day.

Ipswich Jets v Souths Logan Magpies

Head-to-head: Souths Logan 27, Ipswich 20, drawn 1
Last meeting: Ipswich 26 def Souths Logan 18 in Round 12, 2022
Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Souths Logan have won the last two - and three of the last four - games between these two sides at North Ipswich. However, the Magpies have lost six of their last seven overall away games
• Despite their recent home record against Souths Logan, Ipswich have won two of their last three overall home games

A word from the coaches

Ipswich Jets coach Ben Cross: I just want to see competitiveness this weekend. I want them to compete on every play and every set. I'm expecting a fairly physical game with lots of players dropping back to Souths Logan from the Broncos. Overall, I can imagine it's going to be a fairly physical game up front.

Souths Logan Magpies coach Karmichael Hunt: Obviously it being Round 1, I won't be surprised if it's not the most polished performance but the expectation is they go out, compete and give it their all. I have no doubt that will be the case. I'm looking forward to seeing how our boys go against Ipswich. They're a tough, competitive team that don't give up. We played them in our last trial and Crossy is doing a good job up there. He has a tough forward pack with good edge runners. They're never out of a contest and we'll have our work cut out for us but hopefully we can stay focused and get the job done. 

Norths Devils v Burleigh Bears

Head-to-head: Burleigh 28, Norths 24
Last meeting: Norths 20 def Burleigh 19 in a 2022 qualifying final
Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Norths have won their last seven games and their last four games at home
• Burleigh meanwhile have lost their last three away games
• Bryce Donovan requires just two points to bring up 200 points in Cup

A word from the coaches

Norths Devils coach Dave Elliott: The main thing I want to see is just the same attitude and effort that we've seen in some of our trial games towards our defence. I'm expecting Burleigh to come up here and be like they have been over the last six or seven years. They're a really consistent, tough footy team that won't beat themselves. We'll have to be right on our game to beat them. 

Burleigh Bears coach Luke Burt: The main thing for us this week is to put in an 80-minute performance of what we've practiced all pre-season. It's a weekend where we need to concentrate on us more than the opposition. Norths are two-time champions so we're expecting a very tough match. They have similar key players from the past two years and a few handy additions coming in from the Broncos which will strengthen their team. We're expecting a tough assignment at Bishop Park.

Central Queensland Capras v Tweed Seagulls

Head-to-head: Tweed 27, Central Queensland 7, drawn 1
Last meeting: Tweed 18 def Central Queensland 12 in Round 13, 2022
Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Tweed are a bit of a hoodoo team for Central Queensland, having won the last six games - and 18 of the last 19 meetings - between these two sides. Central Queensland's last win was 30-16 at Cbus Super Stadium in 2017
• Outside of their tough run against Tweed, Central Queensland have recent momentum at Browne Park, winning their last two home games in 2022
• Lindon McGrady needs four points to bring up 600 in Cup - all points are for Tweed

A word from the coaches

Central Queensland Capras coach Lionel Harbin: In the first game of the season you just want to do the little things well - complete and be disciplined. That will be our main focus in Round 1 and the first few games. Tweed for a long time now have been a good side. With (Lindon) McGrady there, he's a quality player and they like to move the footy and they do move the footy quite well. They came up last year and did really well and beat us at home so we're expecting a tough game.

Tweed Seagulls coach Dave Penna: We’ve been a strong club in recent years so we’re in a good position to keep that going. We don’t need to change much. We want to compete on every play... employ what we’ve worked on over the offseason. Keep it simple.

Western Clydesdales v PNG Hunters

Head-to-head: First meeting
Broadcast: Qplus.tv, 9Now and Kayo Freebies

• PNG finished 2022 on a solid note with two wins and a draw in their last three games
• The Clydesdales - who formerly played as the Toowoomba Clydesdales - had their last Cup game in the 2006 grand final, which they lost to Redcliffe 27-6 at Suncorp Stadium
• Western Clydesdales captain Darryn Schonig will become Cup player No. 228, with 227 players turning out for the Clydesdales between 1996 and 2006. Of these 227, 90 played NRL (with 8670 games between them), 30 played State of Origin (466 games) and 20 played for Australia or New Zealand (201 games)

A word from the coaches

Western Clydesdales coach Jason Alchin: It's our first game as a club. It's exciting stuff for the community and region and all the hard work has come together for us for this game. I just want everyone to enjoy themselves and be committed to what we've been doing at training. We all know how the Hunters play. They play very physically, they're in your face and they don't mind the hard contact. We're ready for that. They are very skilful. We're in for a very hard and tough game and the boys know that.

PNG Hunters assistant coach Paul Aiton: Like most teams in Round 1, we’ll be focusing on the basics and keeping it simple. Possession and completion rates will be important. With the Clydesdales, players coming from that (southwest) area, they’re always tough. It’s their first game back in the competition and we know they’re not going to come lightly. It’ll be a physical battle.

Redcliffe Dolphins v Brisbane Tigers

Head-to-head: Redcliffe 35, Tigers 18, drawn 1
Last meeting: Redcliffe 26 def Tigers 20 in Round 13, 2022
Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Redcliffe have the recent form in this match up, winning the last four - and eight of the last nine - games between these two sides
• Redcliffe’s grand final loss to Norths last year was their first loss in nine games at home
• The Tigers will hope to capitalise on last year's momentum, when they won three of their last four away games
• Newly-signed Brisbane Tigers winger Nat McGavin will notch up a special milestone in his first game with the club, with Sunday's clash his 50th Cup game. McGavin played all 49 games of his Cup career so far with the Sunshine Coast Falcons.

A word from the coaches

Redcliffe Dolphins coach Ben Te'o: I want to see a team that comes together on Sunday. We have guys that train fulltime and guys that train part-time and it's an opportunity to bring them together and play as a team. From the Tigers, I'm obviously expecting a tough team. They have a great affiliation with the Melbourne Storm so I'm sure they'll run a lot of their systems. They've also brought some real experience into their side with Corey Thompson at the back. He's a dangerous guy.

Brisbane Tigers coach Matt Church: We just want to compete hard and complete well to give us the best chance this weekend. Traditionally Redcliffe have a big forward pack and like to play a power game and they've shown that in the trials as well. We will need to muscle up through the middle there.

Bye: Northern Pride

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